Primary Menu

Heather Wastie writes poems, songs & monologues. This blog began with her oral history project with people who worked in the carpet industry in Kidderminster. Her carpet industry related pieces appear on this blog and in her book http://blackpear.net/authors-and-books/heather-wastie/

Monthly Archives: April 2014

Tomorrow, for World Book Night, I’ll be performing humorous poetry and songs at Sandwell Central Library, High Street, West Bromwich B70 8DZ. The event starts at 6.30 and I’ll be entertaining for 45 minutes or so, followed, I believe, by some more live music until about 8.00. Admission is £2.50 and proceeds go to Acorns Hospice. If you need further information call 0121 569 4904 or email central_library@sandwell.gov.uk. Otherwise please just come along!

Here’s a carpet-related poem from my first book Until I saw your foot: The vacuum-cleaner tuner. I’ll be performing it tomorrow! The lovely illustrations are by John Greaves Smith.

I wrote this lament when we were fighting to stop Worcestershire County Council closing Kidderminster Library Gallery. Sadly we lost, and the Gallery has been converted into offices. I’ll leave it to the Lament to explain what happened.

I am running some poetry workshops over the coming months, starting with one next Tuesday morning 10.30-12.30 at the New Meeting House, Church Street, Bull Ring, Kidderminster DY10 2AR. See the Feedback page of this blog for reviews of my previous workshops. I welcome people of all abilities from beginners to more experienced to Learn from other poets’ work, Write our own and Share some of what we have written in a relaxed, friendly environment. Each workshop will be self-contained and cost £10. Future sessions are Wednesdays 21st May & 9th July 7.30-9.30pm. See http://kidderminster-creatives.org.uk/uncategorized/poetry-workshops-2/ for more information.

The very first image which sparked off my interest in writing about Kidderminster and the carpet industry was one presented by Melvyn Thompson during a tour of the town. He talked about dyes from the various factories combining their colours in the River Stour. Very recently I was sent a poem about The Stour which includes that image so I have added it to the collection of writing by others on the Your Stories page, with thanks to Roger Mathews.

Since we’re on the subject of rivers, I wrote a piece recently which refers to the flooding issues along the River Severn. It also collects together quirky quotes from TV weather presenters. The verses are spoken and the chorus (in italics) sung. I sang it at Mouth and Music (www.mouthandmusic.co.uk) and hope to perform it again some time!

Blame the Weatherman

There are a few teething problems with Spring.
The winds are up to no good
and there’s some unctuous warm air
– a weather sandwich.

The barriers are up in Bewdley,Worcester racecourse is inundated,the long range weather forecastis for a 6 week hose pipe ban

so there’s no need to dredge the riversand there’s no point clearing out the bridge holes,water water everywhereand no-one will carry the can

It’s all down to global warmingthat the ice is melting in our greenhouse,the shifting winds will blow your house down.Blame the weather man.

Hail and hurricanes and earthquakes –Blame the weather man (or the weather girl)Blame the weather man.

The sunshine’s been in the shadows.
There’ll be rain romping in from the west on Wednesday;
It’ll be a real windscreen wiper of a morning.
There’ll be a psychedelic storm followed by some cool days.

We’ve got weather in the forecast today.
It’s going to throw lots of things at us.
The showers could be quite punchy
but we’ll be shoe-horning in some sun.

There’ll be some usable weather flirting with the south coast –
crisp, cold and deliciously sunny.
In the Midlands there’ll be a disappointing fog
and some clearly not helpful rain.

Today will be jam packed with plenty of weather;
I’ve been going mad with the crayons!
It will be colder than the figures on the weather map
due to cold air.
It’ll be 10 degrees. But it will feel like 9.